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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. K. HILL & J. E..W. HOADLEY. V STEAM ENGINE.

No. 542,256. Patented J11 y 9,1895.

. (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

E K. HILL & J. H. W. HO-ADLEY. STEAM ENGINE.

No.542,25 6. n Patented July 9,1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD HILL, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND JOSEPH H. W.- HOADLEY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,256, dated July9,1895. Application filed October 1, 1894- Serial No. 524,645- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD K. HILL, residing at Worcester, in thecounty of l/Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, and JOSEPH H. W.HOADLEY, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, citizens of the United States, have invented a newand usefulImprovement in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide a steam-engine in which theworking parts are arranged in an efficient, convenient, and compactmanner and are capable of simple and convenient adjustments, the workingparts being so mounted that friction may be reduced to a minimum and theengine rendered capable of extremely accurate regulation.

To these ends our invention consists in the parts and combinations ofparts,as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in theclaims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying five sheets of-drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan Viewof an engine constructed according to our invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged View, partially brokenaway, of the cylinder and valve operating mechanism. Fig. 4t is atransverse sectional view of the cylinder,,taken through theinlet-valve. I Fig. 5 is a similar view taken through the outletvalveFig. 6 is a detail view of the valvegear for operating the -inlet-valve,showing the parts in a different relative position from that shown inFig. L Fig. 7 is a detail view of the valve-gear for operating theoutletvalve, showing the parts in a difierent relative position fromthat-shownin Fig. 5; and Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, are detail views tobe hereinafter referred to.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A designates thecylinder-casting, which is provided with a steam-chest or steam-passagea, to which steam may be admitted by means of throttle'valve, as d, thecasting being also provided with suitable outlet-passages, as indicatedat b. l

B designates the bed-piece or frame, and O a pillow-block, which forms abearing for the main shaft D. These parts may-be of the ordinary orapproved construction, and, as shown in the drawings, wehave illustrateda construction embodying features which are ordinarily employed in whatis known as the Wheelock engine, although it is evident f that the partswhich constitute our invention,

as hereinafter described, may be used in conbearing-surfaces 16, 17, and18, formed in the cylinder-casting. Mounted in each of the removableshells or plugs we provide the sliding gridiron inlet-valve 11 andoutlet-valve 12, which are arranged to work transversely of the cylinderand to co-operate with suitable valve-seats, which are formed with theplug. v

In the actual use of plugs or shells, which are provided with seats forthe inlet and outlet valves, we have found that the pressure of thesteam acting against the inlet-valve and the inlet-valve seat is apt tostrain the inletvalve seat, so as to prevent the bearing-surface 15 ofthe plug from fitting tightly against the bearing-surface 18 of thecylinder casting, thus producing leakage between the surfaces 15 and 18,and seriously interfering with the efficiency of the engine. To overcomethis difficulty, we have provided our removable shell or plug withbracesor struts, as 21, which are secured above the outlet-valve, andare adapted to reinforce and stiffen the inlet-valve seat.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, 21 designates the reinforcing-braces, whichare constructed with suitable side bars or pieces,connected bycrosspieces 210, forming a ladder or grating, which will stiffen theinlet-valve seat in such a way as to prevent the possibility of leakageabout the plug.

- It sometimes happens, in the use of steamengines, that an abnormalpressure may be created in the cylinder from the presence of water, andit frequently happens that the cylinder-head may be blown out, or partsof the engine may be broken. To overcome this difficulty it is desirableto have the inlet-valve held against its seat by means of springtension, so that in the case of abnormal pressure in the cylinder theinlet-valve may be forced from its seat and the pressure relieved. Toallow for this action we have provided the shells 0r plugs 10 with atransverse cut or slot, as most clearly shown in Fig. 8. Fitting intothis cut-away section of the plug we provide a piece or section 22,which may be secured in place and may be finished with a plug, so thatthe said piece 22 will conform to and have the same curvature asthesurface of the plug. The piece 22 is made in the form of a grating,as most clearly shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 10, the side piecesof the grating being provided with suitable sockets or cut-awayportions, within which we arrange springs 24, which act upon suitablefollowers or contact.- shoes 23, which are adapted to engage with theinlet-valve and hold the same upon its seat with spring tension. Whenthe removable plug or shell is driven or fitted into its place in thecylinder casting, the piece 22 will beheld in position between the plugitself and the bearing-surfaces of the cylinder casting, and by meansofthis construction we have provided efficient and simple means forholding the inlet-valve upon its seat. This is a very advantageousconstruction, as if either spring should break none of the pieces willdrop into the valve and interfere with the operation thereof.

Upon the end of each removable plug or shell we fasten a removable head,which is detachably secured to said plug and is adapted to support andform a bearing for the valveoperating mechanism, as hereinafterdescribed. In practice we have found that this is an exceedinglydesirable feature of construction, as the valve-operating mechanism maybe finished independently of the plug itself, and as substantially thesame valveoperating mechanism may serve for several different sizes ofour engines the heads can he finished and completed in quantities, thuscheapening and simplifying the construction of the engine.

The mechanism which we preferably employ for actuating the valves may bedescribed as follows: A gear or pinion 26, secured upon the main shaftD, meshes with and drives a pinion 27, which has a bevel gear or pinion2S fastened to and turning therewith. The bevel-gear 28 in turn mesheswith and drives a bevel-gear 29, which is secured upon a shaft 30, whichis journaled in suitable brackets, which may be fastened to thebed-piece of the engine, as shown. Near the center of the shaft 30 weprovide suitable gearing for driving the governor of the engine, and wepreferably inclose this gearing within a casing 31. As this gearingconsists merely of the ordinary bevel pinions, it need not be hereinshown or described at length. A valve-actuating shaft 36 is journaled insuitable boxes secured to the cylinder, as shown, and we preferably usea universal joint and a clutch, as illustrated at 32, for connecting theshaft 36 with the shaft 30. The clutch which we have illustrated in thedrawings is of the ordinary two-part pattern, which is provided with asection 33 and a corresponding movable section 330, which can beactuated by means of a handle 34, which is suitably pivoted, as at 35.When the clutch is disconnected, the valve-actuating shaft 36 is free torotate independently, and, as shown in the drawings, we have providedthe same with a suitable capstan-head, as shown at E, by means of whichthe same may be rotated by hand and the valves ofthe engine thusactuated.

The use of a universal joint for connecting the valve-actuating shaftwith the driven shaft we have found to be an exceedingly desirablearrangement, as by means of this construction the same mechanism foractuating the valves can be used in dilferent sizes of our engines andthe valve-actuating shaft can be conveniently coupled to and driven fromthe main shaft of the engine independently of the relative position ofthe valve-actuating shaft to the main shaft.

Mounted upon and secured rigidly near each end of the valve-actuatingshaft 36 we provide suitable collars 37, having face-plates 38 and 39,as shown. Also mounted on the valve-actuating shaft 36, in a position tobe detachably secured to the face-plates, we pro vide eccentric disksfor actuating the valves of the engine, and as the valve-gear foractuating the valves at each end of the cylinder are duplicates of eachother a description of one set of valves and its connections willsuffice.

For the purpose of adjustably securing the valve-operating eccentrics inposition upon the face-plates, we preferably provide each of theeccentric-disks with a bolt 42, which fits through a slot- 420, formedin the faceplate, and is secured in position by means of aclamping-nut,as shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 6.

44 designates an eccentric-strap for actuating the inlet-valve, which isconnected to and moves an eccentricrod 45, which is pivoted to acrank-arm 46, carried by a rock-shaft 47, which is journaled in suitablebearings,

formed in a downwardly extending projection of the removable head.Splined upon and secured to the shaft 47, we provide an oscillating partor pusher 48, which also has a set-screw for insuring a rigid connectionbetween the same and the rock-shaft 47. The part or pusher 48 isprovided with a wearingsurface 50, which may be held in place by screws,and which is preferably formed of hardened steel, to co-operate with avertically movable tappet carried by the inlet-valve stem.

We preferably locate the wearing-surface of the oscillating pusher 48with an angular lead with reference to the rocleshaft 47, for a purposehereinafter described.

vide the latter with a suitable pinch-nut 54;

A vertically'movable tappet 55, which has a steel wearing-plate 56,secured as by screws thereto, in position to .co-operate with 'thepusher 48, is mounted in the casting 53, and is provided with a curvedarm or finger 57,

which extends downwardly, engaging with a governor-controlled device forregulating its height, the point of contact being substantiallynormallyinthe line of the vertical axis of the tappet 55.

The governor connections which we preferably employ may be arranged asfollows:

58 designates the governor, which may be of the ordinary pattern, andwhich actuates a bell-crank lever 59, which is connected to reciprocatea rod 60, extending below the re movable heads, as most clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 3.

In order to oppose as little friction as possible to the action of thegovernor,-we provide the bearings 61 of the shaft with suitablefriction-rolls 62 and 63, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Journaledupon the rod 60, in a position to engage a foot-piece 570, carried bythe downwardly-extending finger 57 of the tappet 55, we provide aconical roll 64, as shown. The roll 64 is secured in place upon thereciprocating governor-rod 60, by means of a bracket 65, which isadjustably clamped to the governor-rod by means of a pinch-bolt650. Thebracket'65 is provided at one end with an upwardly-extendingcamshapedprojection 66, which is adapted to engage with and actuate thevertically-movable tappet 55, in case the governor becomes broken orfails to act, thus forming a safety device, which acts in a well-knownmanner.-

By providing the reciprocating governorrod 6O with the conical rollers64 to engage with and actuate the vertically-movable tappets, we areenabled to decrease the friction which will be opposed to the tappetwhen the same is moved transversely by means of the Y oscillatingpusher, and, in practice, we have found that this forms a very efficientand desirable form of governor connection, and as the governorconnections act substantially concentrically upon the vertically-movabletappets, the tendency of the tappets to cramp or bind as they are movedup or down is en tirely avoided. i

As before stated, the projection of the oscillating pusher 48, whichengages with and actuates the tappet 49, is preferably offset or setwith angular lead with reference to the rock-shaft 47, as most clearlyshown in Fig.

6. The object of this construction is to increase the surface of contactbetween the tappet and the pusher. Y I

It is to be noted that as the contact-surface of the pusher 48 islocated some distance to the left of the center of the rock-shaft47, asshown in Fig. 6, the same will'move down-' ward a greater distance forthe same amount of angular movement than it would if saidwearing-surface were arranged directly over and in line with therock-shaft 47. By means of this construction we are enabled to allow thepusher to lap a greater distance upon the tappet, and an increasedwearing-surface forthe parts is provided, so that the same will not wearout so quickly, as in constructions as heretofore'arranged.

Inasmuch as the valve-stem 51 of the inlet-valve extends through onlyone head of the removable plug or shell 10, the unbalanced pressure ofsteam upon the valve 12- will always have a tendency to hold theinlet-valve in its closed position; but to insure the closing of thevalve promptly and accurately we ordinarily provide the same with adash-pot, and we preferably locate the dash-pot in line with thevalve-stem, so that the same may act positively and directly without theintervention of any intermediate mechanism.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 6, 67 designates a piston-rod,having a piston 69 secured thereto, which fits into a suitable dashpot71, and-is engaged by a suitable coiled spring 70, as shown. Thedash-pot, as thus constructed, is providedwith a small orifice,

its opposite end the piston-rod 57 is threaded into a split-bearingformed in the casting 53, heretofore described, and a pinch-bolt 68 isprovided-for rigidly securing the piston-rod anism or the action of thedashpot mechanism; or, again, if it is desired to have the dash-potmechanism act more or less strongly, the same can be adjusted by meansof the piston-rod 67 and the connection before described withouta'ffecting the point of cut-off or the positiouof the valve. This givesa very simple and nice means of adjustmentfor regulating the action ofthe valve.

In connection withthe valve'gear for operating the inlet-valve, asbefore described, we may use any suitable form of mechanism foroperating the'outlet-valve; but the arrangement which we preferablyemploy is most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7. Referring to thesefigures, 73 designates the outlet-valve stem, which extends from theplugor shell 10 through a suitable stuffing-box 74, and is provided atits outer end with a suitable bearing 75in the head 25. Links or levers76 are pivoted to a fixed point or block 760, and links or levers 77 arepivoted to a casting 78,-se-

cured upon the outlet-valve stem by means of the nut 7S0, threaded onthe valve-stem, as shown. At their opposite ends the links or levers 7'6and 77 are pivoted to a suitable head or casting 79, and by means ofthis construction it will be seen that the links 76 and '77 formsubstantially a toggle-joint, by means of which the outlet valve may bepositively moved in either direction. Power for actu' ating theoutlet-valve through this togglejoint is applied to the toggle-leversthrough the eccentric-rod 80 and the eccentric-strap 81.

We have found in practice that an arrangement of toggle links or leversfor actuating a steam-engine valve is a very desirable arrangement, aswith the same the valve will have a quick opening and closing movement.It is also to be noted that by using an eccentric to actuate the togglemore or less motion is always being imparted to the valve, and as thesame is never brought to entire rest upon its valve-seat the tendencyfor the same to become struck or clogged is greatly diminished. We mayuse this valve -operating mechanism in connection with any valve towhich it is desired to impart a similar movement, and the use of thismechanism is not necessarily limited to an outlet-valve. It is furtherto be noted that by applying power to the joint of the toggle the poweris applied in a position to secure the greatest leverage and to mosteasily overcome the resistance of the valve.

It will be noted that we have provided an eccentric to operate eachvalve of the engine and that we have made each eccentric adjustable.This is a very important feature, as each valve can be independently setand adjusted, a very important point in practice.

e are aware that many changes may be made in the construction of ourengine by those who are skilled in the art, and we do not wish,therefore, to be limited to the exact construction which we have shownand described; but

What we do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

1. The combination of a removable shell or plug provided with seats forthe inlet and outlet valves, and a brace or strut for reinforcing theinlet valve seat, made in the form of a ladder or grating, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination of the cylinder, a transverse shell or plug fittingtherein having inlet and outlet valve-seats, inlet and outlet valvesarranged in said plug to move transversely of the cylinder, and a braceor strut for reinforcing the inlet valve-seat, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of the cylinder, a removable shell or plug havinginlet and outlet valve-seats, inlet and outlet valves mounted in saidplug arranged to move transversely of the cylinder, and a brace or strutmade in the form of a grating or ladder for reinforcing the inletvalve-seat, substantially as described.

at. The combination of the cylinder, a removable shell or plug, an inletvalve mounted in said plug, springs for holding the inlet valve upon itsseat, a part or piece for holding said springs in place, said part beingsecured between the removable plug and its hearings in the cylinder,substantially as described.

5. In an engine, the combination of a removable plug or shell, having avalve seat, a removable cap or head secured to one end of said plug, anda valve-actuating mechanism mounted on said head, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an engine, the combination of a removable plug or shell, inlet andoutlet valves mounted in said shell, a removable cap or head secured toone end of said plug, a valve actuating mechanism mounted on said head,a shaft for driving said valve actuating mechanism, and a universaljoint for connecting said shaft with a shaft driven from the main shaftof the engine, substantially as described.

7. In an engine, the combination of an inlet valve working transverselyof the cylinder, a vertically movable tappet actuating the inlet valve,a curved arm or finger extending downwardly from said tappet to engagesuitable governor-controlled connections, whereby saidgovernor-connections can act substantially in line with said tappet, andan oscillating pusher for engaging said tappet, substantially asdescribed.

8. In an engine, the combination of a valve working transversely of thecylinder, a movable tappet for actuating said valve, governor controlledconnections for regulating the position of said tappet, and a pivoted,oscillating pusher having an offset projection or wearing surfacelocated with angular lead for engaging with and actuating said tappet,substantially as described.

9. In an engine, the combination of an inlet valve working transverselyof the cylinder, a vertically movable tappet for actuating the inletvalve, a curved arm or finger extending downwardly from said tappet, areciprocating governor-controlled rod, and a conical roller journaledupon said rod, in position to engage said arm, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a valve-gear for engines, the combination of a vertically movabletappet, a reciprocating governor-controlled rod, a conical roller foradjusting the height of said tappet journaled upon said rod, a bracketfor securing said roller in place upon the rod, said bracket beingprovided with a cam-shaped projection forming a safety device in case ofaccident to the governor, substantially as described.

11. In an engine, the combination of a valve working transversely of thecylinder, a dashpot arranged on the working side of the engine in linewith said valve, and adjustable connections between the valve anddash-pot, substantially as described.

12. In an engine, the combination of aninlet valve working transverselyof the cylinder, a vertically movable tappet actuating the inlet valve,a dash-pot acting to close said inlet valve, adjustable connectionsbetween the inlet valve and the vertically movable tappet, andadjustable connections between the vertically movable tappet and thedash-pot, substantially as described.

13. In an engine, the combination of a removable plug or'shell, inletand outlet valves mounted in said plug and movable transversely ofthe-cylinder, a vertically movable sliding tappet, governor-controlledconnections for regulating the position of said tappet, a pivoted,oscillating pusher operating upon said tappet to open the inlet valve, a

dash-pot for closing the inlet valve, and means ent eccentrics connectedto operate each outlet valve and each pusher, substantially asdescribed.

15. In an engine, the combination of an inlet valve, an outlet valve, avertically adjustable tappet and an oscillating pusher for actuating theinlet valve, and toggle-levers or links for actuating the outlet valve,substantially as described.

16. In an engine, the combination of an inlet valve and an outlet valve,a vertically movable tappet, an oscillating pusher, an eccentric foractuating said pusher to open the inlet valve, a dash-pot acting toclose the inlet valve, toggle levers or links connected to said outletvalve, and an eccentric for actuating said toggle levers, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD K. HILL. JOSEPH H. W. HOADLEY.

Witnesses:

LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE.

